The Hasbro Transformers panel for San Diego Comic Con International 2014 began Thursday the 24th promptly at 11am. The dais included Hasbro’s director of marketing Jerry Jivoin, senior manager Sarah Carroll, and product designer Sean Isabella.

Sarah started the panel off with Rescue Bots, focusing on Dinobots this year, a bit of a tie in with the movies.

Other kid-focused items include Hero Mashers, Battle Masters (the puppet-like Rock’em Sock’em Robots-type toy), KreO Battle changers (the first KreO sets that convert without being taken apart, 75-85 pieces each set, this November, Optimus, Grimlock, Starscream, and Bumblebee), Angry Birds Transformers which is coming out this fall (with 2 ways to play: Telepods figures that actually transform and beam into the game, and Jenga Race & Crash), the movie line kid toys like Stomp and Chomp Grimlock – an item Jerry says challenges every other toy company out there for Toy of the Year, but he admits he might be biased, and Construct Bots.

Generations showed off everything for 2014 already, so reveals for 2015 will come later in the panel. Continue reading SDCC 14 Hasbro Transformers Panel Coverage

During Botcon 2014′s second day, Saturday, June 21st, the Hasbro Transformers brand hosted an outstanding panel showing off new products. This year’s slideshow images are already available in a gallery, here are the details given on each release mentioned during the slideshow for Generations, Age of Extinction, and more Transformers brands.

On the panel were Ben Montano, brand development; Lenny Panzica, senior product designer; Mark Maher, paint; Bill Paukert and John Warden, product design managers; and Mark Weber, global brand development manager.

Hasbro wanted to congratulate the Generations line for finding a strong enough audience to stick around during a movie year and thus “not getting pushed around by Michael Bay.” While there were just 9 collector figures in 2012, 2013 brought 54 and 2014 will bring 73. Continue reading Botcon 2014: Hasbro Panel Write-Up

On Botcon 2014’s final day, Sunday, June 22nd, IDW Comics was the focus of an impressive panel. IDW publishes Transformers comics, including a pair of monthly ongoing books – Robots in Disguise (RID), and More than Meets the Eye (MTMTE) – as well as fan-choice character Windblade’s titular miniseries, and a semi-regular digital-first series which will be continuing soon with Primacy. This summer will also begin IDW’s crossover series, the wild new series Transformers vs. GI Joe. And a new limited-series online motion comic is starting up right now called Transformers: Punishment.

The panel included the most IDW talent every assembled on one stage, according to Transformers editor John Barber, saying that were the stage to collapse, there would be no more IDW Comics. Writer/editor John Barber, writer James Roberts, artist Andrew Griffith, writer Mairghread Scott, artist Sarah Stone, and artist Livio Ramondelli. Continue reading Botcon 2014: IDW Comics Panel Coverage

This year’s Botcon, the annual official Transformers collectors convention,  takes place once again in Pasadena, California, in order to be close to Hollywood to celebrate the upcoming release of the newest Transformers film, Age of Extinction, as well as celebrate the Transformers brand’s 30th anniversary. 

The first day of the convention, Friday, June 20th, was an exclusive preview day for fans who got the Botcon multi-day packages, and Hasbro had a good look at their current and upcoming lines in their display, along with activities and games. The second day was open to the public and found the Hasbro product panel, while photos weren’t allowed of the slideshow, some of the new products were put into the cases. Also, Arcee and Rodimus were announced as the Hall of Fame winners. Continue reading Botcon 2014: Hasbro Transformers Coverage

UPDATE: Remember, voting ends tomorrow, 6/18, so make sure you get your final vote in.

The preliminary votes are in, and fans’ five nominees for the Transformers Hall of Fame class of 2014 Fans’ Choice are

• Arcee
• Blackarachnia
• Devastator
• Optimus Primal
• Rodimus

4 out of 5 of these made our round 1 results!

Vote for your favorite every day from now until Wednesday, June 18th at the Hasbro Transformers Facebook poll.

Hasbro will announce the winners at the Transformers Fan Experience at Universal Studios Hollywood on Friday, June 20th.